A harrowing situation is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a new Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly. Doctors and nurses on the front line report they lack even the most basic protective equipment, including gloves, masks, and clean water.
"We live with fear in our stomachs," said Elisabeth Furaha, medical director at a clinic in Ituri province. She has spent her own money on supplies and built a makeshift isolation tent, but she still lacks tests and mattresses for patients. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain with a fatality rate of up to 50%, and for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency in May. The U.S. State Department pledged $162 million, but aid workers say logistical hurdles and the dissolution of USAID have severely delayed the response. Conflict in the region is also hampering efforts, as armed groups block roads and attack health centers.